Centrifugal separator.



No. 535,875. Patented Nov. 5, lam.

P. M. SHARPLES.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

(Application led Jan. 11, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP M. SI-IARPLES, OF WESTCHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

CENTFJFUGAL SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,875, dated November5, 1901. Application filed January 11.1900. Serial No. 1.051. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern.- p

Be it known that I, PHILIP M. SHARPLES, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Westchester, in the county of Chester andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Centrifugal Separators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to centrifugal liquidseparators and particularly tointerior devices designed to facilitate the separation and collection ofthe constituent elements preparatory to separately discharging the samefrom the rotary vessel. Among the numerous devices heretofore devisedfor this purpose a concentrically-arranged series of partitions has beenemployed having cream-collecting recesses intended to extend lthroughthe spaces between the partitions, so as to enable aV separatedconstituent in any part of the vessel to move into its proper zonewith-V out coming in contact with the liquid in said intermediatespaces. These collecting recesses have heretofore been formed either inseparate protuberances each arranged in communication with one of anadjacent partition to form a radial passage-wayor in such shape as toprevent the easy formation of a rigid partition from light material,such as sheet metal, as well as the engagement or overlapping of thecommunicatingrecesses, so vas to.

insure the extension of each of said recesses beyond the annular spacesbetween the Walls of the partitions. My invention overcomes both ofthese objections in a simple and advantageous construction, and at thesame time provides for a tortuous flow of the unseparated liquid throughsaid annular spaces, so as to more effectively utilize the latter. Theseimprovements are fully described in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, and the novel features are particularly poin ted out in theclaims.

The drawing is' a sectional elevation of a centrifugal separator vesselprovided with partitions embodying my improvements.

A represents the body, B the base, and C the top, of a centrifugalseparator vessel of any suitable construction, having a feed-inlet c anddischarge-outlets c and c2 for the heavier and lighter constituents,respectively, of the liquid operated on, most corn- `top and bottomplates E and F.

full height of the vessel.

vided, as shown, into annular chambers by concentric cylindricalpartitions D D' D2, which are properly spaced within the vessel in anysuitable manner-as, for instance, by

The iniiowing liquid is in the construction shown introduced at thebottom of Ithe vessel outside of the inner partition D2.

`To provide a direct conductingpassage for the cream as separated fromeach ofthe ann ular chambers th rough the intervening separating-spaceto the uormalcream zone, I form in -each partition cylinder or tube D DD2 -a spiral grooved rib or ribs d d' cl2, extending entirely around thesame and practically the The pitch of these spiral grooves or guttersmay be more or less, as desired, but is uniform on all the partitions,and the depth of the grooves is preferably greater than the spacebetween them, so that when assembled byscrewingeach partition into thenext larger one and properly spacing them, as by means of the plates Eand F, a continuous and direct radial passage inward to the cream zoneisprovided through openings d3 in the bottom of each communieating groovedrib, through which the cream as soon as separated in anypart of thesvessel can pass without coming in contact with any ot' the heavierconstituents. 'lhe new milk entering at the bottom of the vessel causesa comparatively slow upward Inove- Inent of the body of liquid in thebowl, thus insuring the prompt escape of a separated particle of creamfrom the inner wall of the chamber in which it is separated to one ofthe spiriral gutters which crosses its upward path, and as soon as itgets into this gutter it will move directlyinward, as stated, under Icentrifugal action.

To provide for the outward movement of the skimmed or partially-skimmedmilk from each of the separating chambers or spaces between thepartitions, I preferably provide exit-openings d4 d5 (Z6 directly in thecylindrical wall of the vessel between the coils of the cream-gutters,through which the milk can pass to the adjoining outer space or chamberunder centrifugal action; but in order to IOO insure the proper use ofeach separating-space I arrange these milk-openings in one partition, asd5, out of line radially with those d'L d6 in the adjacent partitions,thus causing the outward flow of milk to be in a somewhat tortuouscourse,'as indicated by the curved arrow.

It is obvious that the particular construcdrical partition formed with aspiral collecting-groove with unbroken side walls forming a confiningpassage-way, and havingeXit-open- 'ings at the bottom ot' said grooveand other openings in the ungrooved portion thereof.

` 2. In a centrifugal separator vessel a series *of two or moreconcentric partitions each having a grooved spiral rib arranged toloosely enter the similar groove of an adjacent partition and tocommunicate therewith.

3. In a centrifugal separator vessel a series of two ornnore concentricpartitions each having a grooved spiral rib arranged t0 loosely enterthepsiniilar groove of an adjacent partition, and each of saidpartitions having cream-exits at the bot-tom of the grooves andmilk-inlets in the cylindrical Wall thereof, substantially as set forth.

4t. A centrifugal separator vessel having the liquid-space thereofdivided into annular separating-chambers each having a spiral collectingchannel forming an extension of said chamber toward the axis, with cream-eXit openings from said inwardly-extending spiral channel and milk-exitopenings in the outer wall of the chamber.

Signed by me at Vestchester, Pennsylva- 45 nia, this 26th day ofDecember, A. D. 1899.

